Savage Fire Dept Catfish
An annual fundraiser for the Savage Volunteer Fire Department, this one-day channel catfish tournament runs on the Yellowstone River near Savage, MT. The event is famous for its unique 12-to-18-inch slot limit, which forces anglers to rethink their usual big-fish tactics.
Dates
Jun 13
Waterbody
Yellowstone River
Location
Savage
Target Species
Catfish
Entry Fee
$100
Host
Savage Volunteer Fire Department (run with help from the Montana Catfish Association)
About this tournament
The Savage Fire Department Catfish Tournament is a beloved Eastern Montana community event held on the second Saturday of June each year. Teams of one to three anglers fish the Yellowstone River out of Savage targeting channel catfish under one of the most distinctive rule sets in the region: every fish brought to the scale must measure between 12 and 18 inches.
The slot limit is the heart of the event — the Lower Yellowstone routinely gives up huge catfish, but at Savage the trophies don’t count. Veterans say the tournament rewards anglers who switch up baits and locations rather than camping on the holes that hold the biggest fish. Each team can weigh five fish.
Every dollar of the entry fee, Calcutta, and door-prize raffle goes to the Savage Volunteer Fire Department. The day typically includes a pre-tournament social, Calcutta, fishing hours, a catfish feed, and a stack of door prizes. The 2025 event was the 21st annual.
Schedule
- Friday evening — pre-tournament social, Calcutta and registration
- Saturday 7:30am – 4:00pm — tournament hours
- Saturday afternoon — weigh-in, catfish feed, awards and door prizes
Entry & Prizes
Entry: $100 entry covers teams of 1–3 anglers. Pre-tournament social, Calcutta, catfish feed and door prizes included.
What to expect
The 12-to-18-inch slot limit changes everything. Move often and downsize baits — smaller cut bait, sucker meat, and prepared dough/dip baits tend to attract slot-size channels rather than trophies. The Lower Yellowstone is full of side channels, sandbar drop-offs, and rip-rap edges that hold smaller cats. River flows can swing on snowmelt this time of year, so watch USGS gauges and bring extra anchor line.
History
The Savage Fire Department Catfish Tournament has run for more than 20 years, making it one of the longest-running catfish events in Montana. Past winners have come from across Eastern Montana and as far away as Minnesota. Funds raised have outfitted the all-volunteer department with critical gear and training.
Contact
Sources: www.montanacats.com · www.montanacats.com · www.roundupweb.com · fwp.mt.gov
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